The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-22

cotton annually shipped from New
Orleans is about 100000 which is
about one-third Of the cotton prod
uct of the South.
The Commission held a session at
New Orleans on Monday and it was
avery interesting one. Representa-
tives OF the railroads were in at
tendance as usual, and the business
interests of that city and of other
places in Louisiana were also strong
ly represented. Many of these gen
tlemen exhibited remarkable ability
and intelligence. The session lasted
all day. A strong delegation was
present from Shreveport, in no tn
western Louisiana, headed by Con-
gresham Blanchard. The Commits
sion was very much gratified at New
Orleans, both by the courtesy OF the |
inhabitants aud the large amount OF
information acquired.
On Tuesday morning the Commits
sion left New Orleans for Memphis
via the Louisville, New Orleans and
Texas railroad. The road runs par
allel with the Mississippi river and
is under the management OF Maj.
James M. Edwards, its vice president
and general manager, most accom-
plished aud cultured gentleman and
a thorough railroad man.
The journey, Judge Schoonmaker
said, throughout its entire length is
most INTEREST," and impressive. The
country throughout which the road
passes, except for short distance at
Vicksburg, is as smooth as parl0r
floor. Between New Orleans and
Baton Refuge the road passes through
the rich and immense sugar and rice
plantations on the east side OF the
Mississippi, upon which the field
we're generally at work. The planta-
tons were laid out by the original
French settlers and are pecu-
liar in form. They all front on
the river, are narrow, about 800
OF 1000 feet in width, and run back
from the river three or four miles.
A planter may own one or several
such plantations. Every plantation
has access to the river. They are
also crossed now by the Louisville,
New Orleans and Texas railroad and
the Illinois Central railroad, which
greatly Increases the facilities Of the
planters for the shipment Of their
products. A curious feature on the
Mississippi is the levees on each side
of the river. These levees are en-
bankments of earth from fifteen to
twenty feet 10 hight to protect the
country from the overflow of the
river, and they line the river from
New Orleans to Baton Rouge aud
north of it.
North of Vicksburg they passed
through the belt of country lying be-
tween the Yasoo and Mississippi
rivers, called the delta of the Yazoo.
1t contains about 1900, 900 acres and
is said to be the most fertile cotton
producing land in the world. This
territory is being rapidly developed
by the railroad lines running through
it and doubtless in a few years the
greater portion of it will be under
cultivation, yielding immense pro-
ducts. On this part of the road they
passed the residence OF former sur
geon on the staff of Gen. Grant, who
became 80 enamored of this country
that he located there after the war.
They also passed the plantation
owned by Winfield s. Hancock in
his lifetime, aud which is now occu-
pied by his son. The mansion and
other buildings and the grove are in
full view OF the railroad. On
this portion of the line they also
passed a considerable number of the
curious prehistoric mounds of which
we have all read, supposed to have
been constructed by a race antedat-
ing the Indians, and in which are
found curious relics of pottery, mill
tary warfare and also human bones.
The intelligent and courteous atten
ton Of Maj. Edwards in pointing out
places of interest aud in describing
the country through which they
passed was IN Ost interesting and in
structive.
The Commission arrived at Mem
phis at 9 o clock in the evening and
stopped at the GayosO house, very
good hotel, apparently we'll patron
lied A session of the Commission
was held there on Wednesday and
Thursday, and considerable testi-
mony taken.
Memphis, Judge Schoonmaker
said, since its disastrous experience
of 1878 and 1879, when it was nearly
devastated by yellow fever, has be-
come one OF the most prosperous and
important cities of the South. ltnow
contains about 10000 inhabitants,
aud its business is constantly grow
ing. l. has the double advantage of
water communication by the Missis-
sippi river beside several railroad
lines, the Louisville and Nashville,
the Louisville, New Orleans and
Texas, the Iron Mountain and others.
The trade OF Memphis is very large.
An interesting statistical statement
furnished TO the Commission shows
that during the last fiscal year its re
ceipts in the way Of products
amounted to upwards Of $4,000, 900,
and its exports to nearly the same
sum, It's exports Of cotton for the
present year up to April Both
amounted to 653 600 bales. These are
mainly sent on through bills of lading
to Eastern points in the United
States and abroad, Memphis has
now the largest export cotton trade
of any inland city in the Union, and
is second only TO New Orleans. The
city has been Immensely improved in
sanitary condition since its yellow
fever visitation. Its natural location
on considerable bluff above the
Mississippi is favorable to health. 1t
has thorough system OF sew
erage. While a. Memphis the Com
mission visited the cotton compress,
where the bales OF cotton, each weigh
ing 500 pounds, are taken as they are
brought in from the plantations and
compressed by means o. immense en-
giues to about one-third Of their
original bulk. A bale Of cotton
when this work is expedited, can be
compressed in about minute, or at
| a 4 4 Il NE \.